Yao Baoqian

Yao Baoqian (; April 1925 – 7 June 2018) was an officer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army who served as commander of the 24th Group Army. He joined the Communist New Fourth Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and later fought in the Chinese Civil War and the Korean War. He was the first military commander to reach the disaster zone in Tangshan during the Great Tangshan earthquake of 1976.

Biography Yao was born April 1925 in Dingyuan County, Anhui, China. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he enlisted in the New Fourth Army in March 1939, before turning 14. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in April 1942. He fought in many battles during the Sino-Japanese War and the ensuing Chinese Civil War, and steadily rose through the ranks.

During the Korean War, Yao served as commander of the 215th Regiment, 72nd Division, 24th Army of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. He was later promoted to commander of the 197th Division, which was stationed in Tangshan, Hebei after 1969.

In 1976, Yao was promoted to Chief of Staff of the 66th Army and stationed in nearby Tianjin.